Nat Phillips: Cardiff City sign Liverpool defender on loan

Image source, Visionhaus

Image caption, Nat Phillips played two games in the Champions League for Celtic while on loan from Liverpool this season

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has joined Cardiff City on loan for the rest of the season.

Phillips, 26, is the first recruit of the January transfer window available to Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.

Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United were also reportedly keen on the English centre-back.

Phillips has been a member of Jurgen Klopp's squad since 2018, making 19 league appearances and scoring one goal for the Reds.

During his time at Anfield, Phillips has twice been on loan at German club VfB Stuttgart and last season was part of Bournemouth's promotion winning Championship side.

This season, Phillips has been on loan at Scottish champions Celtic, featuring in eight games, including against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

He also had Champions League experience at Liverpool, fracturing his cheekbone during a game with AC Milan.

Greek international Dimitrios Goutas and former Arsenal defender Mark McGuinness have been the first choice centre-back pairing for Cardiff this season.

Nottingham Forest loanee Jonathan Panzo returned to his parent club early in the January window, so a central defender became a priority for the Bluebirds.